Federal Dollars on the Line for State Library Programs ::: District Dispatch:

It’s “appropriations”
season again in Washington. That time every year when the President submits a
budget to Congress and, in theory at least, Congress drafts and votes on bills
to federally fund everything from llama farming to, well, libraries. Nevermind where
llamas get their cash, butlibraries in
every statein the nation benefit from funds allocated by
Congress for theLibrary Services and Technology Act (LSTA), the only
federally funded program specifically dedicated to supporting libraries. Last
year, libraries received just under $183 million in LSTA funding, about $156
million of which flowed to states as matching grants.

Neither llama farmers
nor libraries, however, benefit from federal funding without considerable
convincing. That’s where you and your Members of Congress come in.

Starting in
mid-February, individual Members of Congress will start signing letters
addressed to their influential colleagues who sit on the powerful
Appropriations Committees in both chambers of Congress. Those letters will ask
the Committee to provide specific dollar amounts for specific programs, LSTA
included. The math is easy: the more Members of Congress who sign the“Dear Appropriator” letterasking for
significant LSTA funding, the better the odds of that money actually being
awarded by the Appropriations Committee and eventually flowing to your state.
Similarly, the more librarians and library supporters who ask their Members of
Congress to sign that LSTA Dear Appropriator letter, the better the odds that
LSTA will be funded and funded well.

So, how can you help?
That’s easy, too.

We are asking library
supporters to reach out and request a meeting with their Representatives and Senatorswhile Members
of Congress are home for the Presidents’ Day recess from February 15 – 20. The
message to deliver at these meetings couldn’t be more simple or
straightforward: “Please add your name to the LSTA Dear Appropriator letter.” READ MORE @